Alsager...0, Ramsbottom United...0

THIS was a game which Ramsbottom should have won and with better finishing they would have undoubtedly done so.

Defending against a strong wind in the first half it was Ramsbottom who carved out the first chance, neat inter-play between Thomas and Lomax on the right saw the latter's cross flash across the face of goal inches from the outstretched Brierley's leg.

On 10 mins a great through ball from Reilly sent Orrell clean through and one on one with the keeper, but as the veteran striker tried to chip him the keeper saved comfortably.

With Scott Thomas dictating most of the play in the centre of midfield, Rammy kept pressing for the opening goal, raiding down both flanks, but desperate and last ditch defending kept Ramsbottom at bay for the remainder of the half.

The second half saw Alsager come more into the game, but the Ramsbottom defence stood firm and dealt with everything comfortably with Simon Marsh having his quietest game of the season, something he was well overdue.

On 60 minutes Goodall raced through the middle, evading tackle after tackle and forced his way into the box, but his cross lacked power and the chance was gone.

On 70 mins Ian Walker came on for Mark Brown and after a couple of weeks on the sidelines through injury, picked up the pace of the game immediately.

He jinked his way past two tackles and fed a perfectly weighted ball through to Fielding, whose outstretched leg poked the ball towards goal and watched agonisingly as the home custodian got the faintest of touches on it to turn it around the post.

Thomas swung the resultant corner in and after a bit of a melee, the ball dropped to Walsh at the back post, but unfortunately, the skipper couldn't get the ball from under his feet and the chance had gone.

Rammy pressed for the rest of the game in search of a winner, but they were unable to find the killer touch in front of goal.

Signs of improvement were evident in a game they should have won, but the main thing is they didn't lose and kept a clean sheet for the second game in a row.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Marsh 7, Boden 7, Goodall 8, Walsh 8, Reilly 7, Lomax 7, Fielding 6, Thomas 8, Brown 6, Brierley 6, Orrell 7. Substitutes: McCoy (for Orrell 80 mins), Walker (for Brown 70 mins). Not used: Langhorn.

Tonight Ramsbottom face St Helens at home (kick-off 7.45pm) followed by another home game on Saturday, where the visitors will be Flixton (kick-off 3pm).

NORTH WEST COUNTIES Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Prescot Cables... 14 9 3 2 31 15 30

Salford City... 12 8 2 2 27 13 26

Skelmersdale Utd... 12 8 1 3 23 13 25

Fleetwood Town... 11 7 1 3 28 18 22

Mossley... 11 7 1 3 18 13 22

Clitheroe... 12 6 3 3 25 15 21

Newcastle Town... 14 6 3 5 26 24 21

Nantwich Town... 9 6 2 1 21 13 20

Squires Gate... 10 3 4 3 11 12 13

St Helens Town... 11 3 4 4 16 18 13

Flixton... 11 3 4 4 12 16 13

Alsager Town... 11 3 4 4 12 20 13

Woodley Sports... 8 3 3 2 16 11 12

Atherton LR... 11 3 3 5 20 20 12

Curzon Ashton... 11 3 2 6 18 20 11

Congleton Town... 10 3 2 5 15 18 11

Winsford United... 10 2 4 4 13 14 10

Abbey Hey... 10 2 3 5 12 21 9

Ramsbottom United... 9 2 1 6 11 17 7

Warrington Town... 9 1 3 5 7 16 6

Atherton Collieries... 9 1 2 6 10 18 5

Glossop North End... 11 1 1 9 12 39 4